Electric signal system.



PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

V. W. BERGENTHAL.

ELECTRIC-SIGNAL SYSTEM.

- APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1904.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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No. 818,515. I PATENTED APR. 24, 1906. V. W. BERGENTHAL. ELECTRIC SIGNALSYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1904.

6 SHEETS-SHEET Z PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

V. W. BBRGENTHAL. ELECTRIC SIGNAL' SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1904.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATENTED APR. 24,1906.

V. W. BBRGENTHAL. ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1904.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

V. BERGENTHAL. ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION TILED JULY 21, 1904.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

a SHEETS-SQHEET a.

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1v. W. BERGENTHAL. ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, R04.

IIITED STATES PATENT 0mm.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 24, 1906.

Application filed July 21, 1904. I Serial No. 217,473.

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VICTOR W. BERGEN- THAL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ElectricSignal Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an electric signal system comprising certainnovel features of construction, arrangement, electrical wiring, andcombination of electromagnets, switches, and circuits controlling signaldevices whereby the setting of a local signal will set one or moreremote signals automatically and both the local signal and the remotesignal will remain set until the remote signal is unlocked by meanslocal to said signal, and my im provements are designed generally forthose systems of traffic roads which have an electric conductor alongthe route and is herein particularly illustrated and described asapplied to what is generally known as the overhead trolley system,having a single track provided with switches or turnouts.

A further object of my invention is to provide a signal system whereintwo sets of signals are located at each end of a block, each setcomprising, for example, a semaphoresignal and a lampsignal, and thevarious sets being so connected electrically that the setting of thesemaphore-signal at one end of the block is controlled by and isdependent upon the setting of the semaphore-signal at the op posite endof the block, while each semaphoresignal, when set, automaticallyeffects the setting of the lamp-signal in its own set. The system isfurther so arranged that the signals must work simultaneously atopposite ends of the block, and the condition of the signals at one endof the block is a certain indication of the condition of the signals atthe opposite end of the block.

Further objects of my invention relate to the connecting of theelectromagnets controlling the semaphores in series instead of inparallel and to the conservation of electrical energy by interruptingthe current through the apparatus, except when the circuitclosersay thetrolley of the car -passes.

It is common in electric signal systems using both the semaphore andelectric lamp to pass the actuating-current from the trolley-contactthrough electromagnets or solenoids at the setting of the signal andkeep them in the circuit during the period the signals remain set.Should the trolley-contact continue for a few minutes from any causesuch as the stopping of the car while the trolley is in contact-theelectromagnets would be destroyed. This I avoid by means of mechanismactuated by the electromagnets cutting out the magnets from the circuit.

In some electric signal systems wherein both semaphores and lamps areused it. is common to connect both sets of signals in the sameelectrical circuit, with the result that if the lamps burn out thesemaphores are not set. In my system I place the semaphores and thelamps in separate circuits, and while the lamp-circuit is closed by theclosing of the semaphore-circuit, the latter is not dependent for itscurrent upon the condition of the lamp-circuit.

In installing my improved system the route is preferably divided into anumber of blocksas many as the traffic of the route requiresand eachblock has a signal-station or box at each end thereof electricallyconnected to each other by two conductors and each adapted to beindependently connected to the trolley-wire by three independentterminals one in constant connection and the others adapted to beconnected by the passage of the trolley. The blocks are entirelyindependent of each other.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the ends of twoblocks provided with my system. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View of ablock, showing the wiring. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing theblock divisions. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a signalbox with part ofhousing broken away. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the upper semaphore mechanism with the semaphore broken away. Fig. 6 is an elevation of same.Fig. 7 is a plan view of the lower semaphore mechanism below line. 3 yof Fig. 4 with semaphore broken away. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation,

the section being taken on line 00 0c of Fig. 5, showing the lockingdevice. Fig. 9 is a top view of trolley contactpiece. Fig. 10 is acentral longitudinal sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 11 is atransverse vertical section of same on line 12 v of Fig. 9.

In Fig. 1 a single-track road is illustrated provided with a switch orturnout which marks the division of two blocks. The trolley-wire 12 isprovided with two circuitclosers 13 and 14, and the turnout-wire hassimilar circuit-closers. A car passing in the direction of the arrow onthe turnout closes a circuit by its trolley engaging circuit-closer halfof the box.

13 and actuates a signal in local box 15 just in advance of the car andalso another signal in a box at the end of the block upon which the caris entering. The car in passing off this block closes a contact throughanother circuit-closer at the end of the block, releasing the signalsset in both boxes.

The signal-boxes 15 and 16 are exact duplicates of each other and areconstructed as follows: The housing of each box is provided with threeopenings 17, 18, and 19 on each side. The opening 17 on the side of thebox facing the block is provided with a green lens, while the oppositeopening 17 is provided with a red lens. The openings 18 are providedwith white or clear lenses and the panel openings 19 with plain glass.The opening 19 is rectangular in form and adapted to disclose twosemaphores 20 and 21 within the box. The semaphore 20 is red andsituated in the upper half of the box, and the semaphore 21 is white andlocated in the lower These semaphores 20 and 21 are carried on theshafts 22 and 23, respectively, which shafts are actuated by theenergizing of one of a pair of solenoids 24 25 and 26 27, respectively.Cams 28 29 and 30 31 upon the shafts 22 and 23, respec tively, open andclose electric switches as their respective shafts rotate, viz: Thecanis 28 29 open and close switches 32 and 33 and close and openswitches 34 and 35 simultaneously, and the cams 30 31 open and closeswitches 36 and 37 and close and open switch 38, thereby breaking andclosing different electric circuits, as will hereinafter appear.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated these different circuits, omitting all ofthe mechanical construction and showing the different switches under thesolenoids, which actuate the shafts which operate the switches. Thewiring on the left of the figure represents the connections in a box 15,and the wiring on the right represents the connections ina box 16. Notshown, but assumed to be located at the opposite end of the block.)Wires 39 and 40 connect the boxes. When a car passes from left to rightover the turnout, its trolleywheel passes over circuit-closer 13 on theturnout-wire and shunts a circuit onto wire 41, to box 15, to switch32,which when the signals are not set is normally closed, to solenoid26, to switch 36, to wire 39, to box 16, to switch 34 in box 16, whichwhen the signals are not set is normally closed, to solenoid 24, toground, energizing the solenoid 26 in box 15 and solenoid 24 in box 16and rotating shaft 23 in box 15 and 22 in box 16, displaying semaphore21 in box 15 and semaphore 20 in box 16. The rotating of shaft 23 in box15 opens switch 36 and closes switches 37 and 38 in box 15. The rotatingof shaft 22 in box 16 opens switches 32 and 34 and closes switches 33and 35 in box 16. The opening of switch 36 in box 15 cuts out thesolenoid 26, and the opening of switch 34 in box 16 cuts out thesolenoid 24. The closirg of switch 38 in box 15 completes a circuit fromthe feed-wire 12 on wire 42 through resistance-coil 43 to lamps 44 44,to ground, lighting the lamps. The closing of switch 35 in box 16completes a circuit from feed-wire on wire 45 through resistance-coil46, wire 47, to lamps 48 48, to ground and lighting said lamps, theresult of the trolley-contact being the displaying of the whitesemaphore and white lamp in box 15 and the displaying of the redsemaphore and red light in box 16. The displaying of the white light andsemaphore in box 15 indicates to the person in charge of the car thatthe block ahead. is free and held for him by the red light and semaphore in box 16 at the remote end of the block. When this carapproaches the remote end of the block, its trolley-wheel engagescircuitcloser l4 and shunts a circuit over wire 49 to box 16, tosolenoid 25, to switch 33, (which was closed by action of solenoid 24when the trolley passed over circuit-closer 13,) to wire 39, to box 15,to solenoid 27 in box 15, to switch 37, to ground, energizing solenoids25 and 27, rotating shafts 22 and 23, respec tively, and reversingsemaphores 20 and 21, respectively, and opening switches 33 and 35 inbox 16, cutting out the solenoid 25 and the lamps 48 48, and closingswitches 32 and 34 in box 16; also opening switches 37 and 38 in box 15,cutting out the solenoid 27 and the lamps 44 44 and closing switch 36 inbox 15, thus reversing the action in the boxes caused by trolley passingover circuit-closer 13 when it entered, the block. The car passes nowonto the next block, where the same action will take place in the boxesof that block if the block is unoccupied. If occupied by a car going inthe opposite direction, the red semaphore and light will be displayed inbox 15 of that block, having been set by the trolley of the car inentering the-block from the other end-viz: a car in entering the blockfrom the opposite direction-4 e., from right to left-will complete acircuit through its trolley and circuit-closer 13 of box 16, over wire50 to box 16, to switch 32 in box 16, to solenoid 26, box 16, to wire40, to box 15, to switch 34, to solenoid 24 in box 15 to ground,energizing solenoid 26 in box 16 and displaying white semaphore in box16 and energizing solenoid 24 in box 15, setting the red semaphore inbox 15 and o ening switch 36 and closing switches 37 an 38 in box 16,cutting out solenoid 26 in box 16 and solenoid 24 in box 15 andconnecting a circuit through switch 38 from feed-wire throughresistancecoil 46 and wire 45 to ground and lighting lamps 44 44,displaying the white light in box 16. The switches 32 and 34 will beopened in box 15 and the switches 33 and 35 closed, thereby completing acircuit from the feed-wire through resistance 43, wire 42. to

switch 35, to ground, lighting lamps 48 48 in box 15 and displaying redlight through lens 17 in box 15. In passing off this block the trolleywill engage the circuit-closer 14 of boX 15, shunting a circuit overwire 49 to boX 15, to solenoid 25, to switch 33, (which has been closed,as described,) to wire 40, to boX 16, to solenoid 27, switch 37, toground, thus reversing the action of the semaphores and cutting out thelamps, as heretofore described, in ref erence to car passing in theopposite direction. Since the electromagnets or solenoids in thesemaphore-circuits are in series connection instead of in parallel, itwill be seen that should the semaphorecircuit i. 6., the circuit whichsets the semaphoresbe broken the approaching car will not get the whitesignal when its trolley engages the circuitcloser, that after asemaphore has been set its actuating-solenoid is immediately cut out bythe opening of the circuit and therefore cannot be burned out, that thesemaphore can be reversed only by a different circuit being closed atthe other end of the blocks, that the lamp-circuit is inde endent of thesemaphore-circuit, but close automatically by the semaphorecircuit, andthat the lamp circuit, if broken fromany cause, simply cuts out thelamps, the semaphores remaining set.

In order toprevent the semaphores being reversed by local interferenceor inaccurate operation of the mechanism, I provide means for lockingeach semaphore in both its normal and set positions. This means isillustrated in Fig. 8. The cores or plungers 51 52 of a pair ofsolenoids are connected by pivoted links 53 54, respectively, to eachend of a rock-bar 55, secured at the middle of its length to thesemaphore-shaft. These links each have a longitudinal opening or slot 61near the lower end, through which passes a pin 56, carried by therock-bar 55. The links 53 54 are also provided with laterally-extendingshoulders 57 at their lower outer ends, affording cams. When a solenoid,as 25, is energized, its core 52 is pulled upward,which pulls up the endof the rock-bar 55, thereby turning the shaft and pulling down link 53and core 51 of solenoid 24. The cam-surface on shoulder 57 of link 53 asit descends engages the end of one of a pair of latches 58 58, pivotedin the bracket-plate 59, and depresses the latch until the shoulder 57passes into a slot in the latch, which is then forced upward by thecoil-spring 60, and the hook on the end of the latch passes over theprojecting end of the rock-bar, locking it in that position, which looksthe semaphore in the position to which it was turned by the rotating ofthe shaft. If the solenoid 24 is now energized, the upward movement ofits core 51 will move link 53 the length of the slot 61 before actuatingthe rock-bar 55, and during this movement the other cam-surface on itsshoulder 57 will have pressed against the end of the slot in the latchand pushed the latch out of engagement with the end of the rock-bar,allowing the rock-bar to be drawn upward when the link 53 engages thepin 56. The link 54 will now be drawn down and its shoulder 57 engagethe other latch 58, which in turn latches over the end of the rock-bar55 and locks the semaphore in its reversed position, where it willremain locked until solenoid 24 is again energized. It will be seen thatonly the energizing of the solenoid having its core connected to thelocked end of the rock-bar.will unlock the semaphore.

In Figs. 9, 10, and 11 I have illustrated my circuit-closing device forthe trolley wire. This circuit-closer is arectangular frame composed ofparallel bars 62 62, connected by the plates 62" and supported by aspan-wire above the trolley-wire and at the side of the path of thetrolley. To the inner sides of these bars 62 62, which are of wood, Isecure the angleirons 63 and 64 with the apex parallel to thetrolley-wire. The angle-iron 63 is in electric connection with the wirethrough bracket 68 and connecting-strips 66, the other angleiron 64being insulated and connected by wire to a signal-box. The insulatedbracket 65, supported and depending from the middle of thecircuit-closer, is secured to the trolleywire 12 and parallel bars 6262, so as to de- 5 flect the trolley-wire between the brackets 67 and68, permitting the flanges of the trolley to engage the angle-irons andclose a connection from the wire 12 through bracket 68, contact 66,angle-iron 63 to trolley-wheel, to angle-iron 64, to wire to signal-boxlocal to circuit-closer, through local signal-b OX to wire connectinglocal boX to remote signal-box and through remote signal-box to ground.By means of this construction the contact of the flanges of thetrolley-wheel with the angleirons is assured without reference to thedepth of the groove or formation or height of flange, while the wireguides the wheel and prevents it from striking the end of the structure.

While I have described my invention in connection with a single-tracktrolley-road having turnouts, it is obvious that the improvements hereindescribed are applicable as well to crossing-signals for intersectingtracks and with obvious modifications might be applied as well tounderground-trolley systems. 7

It is also obvious that in so far as the devices herein described arenot claimed as of my invention the same may be substituted by differentdevices and that the details of the structures which I have claimed asof my invention may be modified structurally.

I claim- 1. An electric signal system of the character described,comprising a trolley-actuated circuitcloser, a semaphore or signal, andan electromagnet for operating the same local to said circuit-closer, aremote semaphore or signal and its actuating-electromagnet, an

electric switch opened by one of said magnets when the latter isenergized, and an electrical circuit including said magnets, switch, andcircuit-closer controlled by the trolley, whereby when said trolleycloses said circuit, the magnets throw the semaphores and open their owncircuit by means of said switch, substantially as described.

2. An electric signal system of the character described, comprising atrolley-actuated circuit-closer, a semaphore or signal, and anelectromagnet for operating the same local to said circuit-closer, aremote semaphore or signal and its actuating-electromagnet, an electricswitch opened by one of said magnets when the latter is energized, anelectrical circuit including said magnets, switch, and circuit-closercontrolled by the trolley, and locking devices for locking saidsemaphores in the positions in which they may be placed by theenergizing of said electromagnets, whereby when said trolley closes saidcircuit the magnets throw the semaphores which become locked in positionand open their own circuit by means of said switch, substantially asdescribed.

3. An electric signal system of the character described, comprising atrolley-actuated circuit-closer, a semaphore or signal, and anelectromagnet for operating the same local to said circuit-closer, alocal electric lamp, an electric switch closed by said magnet when thelatter is energized, a circuit including a source of current, said lamp,and switch, a remote semaphore or signal, an operating-electromagnettherefor, a remote electric lamp, a second electric switch closed bysaid lastmentioned electromagnet when the latter is energized, a circuitincluding a source of current, said remote lamp, and said second switch,a third electric switch opened by one of said magnets when it isenergized, and a circuit including said third switch, said magnets, andsaid circuit-closer, substantially as described.

4. A signal-box for an electric signal system having a semaphore, anelectric lamp, a normally closed electric switch, two normally openelectric switches, a pair of magnets to operate said semaphore andswitches, a circuit including one of said magnets and said normallyclosed switch, a second circuit including the second magnet and one ofsaid normally open switches, and a third circuit including said lamp andthe remaining normally open switch, whereby a current sent over saidfirst circuit causes its magnet to set the i'semaphore and close the"normally open switches, and open the normally closed switch thuscausing the lamp to light, closing the circuit of the second magnet, andopening the circuit of the first magnet, and whereby a currentsubsequently sent over said second circuit energizes the second magnet,reverses the switches, extinguishes the light, and re.-

a circuit including one of said magnets and said normally closed switch,a second circuit including the second magnet and one of said normallyopen switches, a third circuit including said lamp, a source of current,and the remaining normally open switch, whereby a current sent over saidfirst circuit causes its magnet to set the semaphore, to close thenormally open switches, and to open the normally closed switch, thuscausing the lamp to light, closing the circuit of the second magnet, andopening the circuit of the first magnet, and whereby a currentsubsequently sent over said second circuit energizes the second magnet,reverses the switches, extinguishes the light, and reverses thesemaphore, and means to lock the semaphore in its two positions,substantially as described.

6. In a block-signal system of the character described, the combinationof two signalboxes, the first box having a semaphore of a given color, alamp of the same color, a normally closed electric switch, two normallyopen electric switches, and a pair of electro magnets to operate saidsemaphores and switches, the second box having a semaphore of adifierent color, a lamp of the same color as the second semaphore, anormally closed electric switch, two normally open electric switches,and a pair of electromagnets to operate said second semaphore andswitches, a first circuit including one of the electromagnets and thenormally closed switch of the first box, and the normally closed switchof one of the electromagnets of the second box, a second circuitincluding the remaining electromagnet and one of the normally openswitches of the first box, and the remaining electromagnet and one ofthe normally open switches of the second box, a third circuit includinga source of current and remaining normally open switch and lamp of thefirst box, and a fourth circuit including a source of current and theremaining normally open switch and lamp of the second box, wherebyenergization of the first circuit throws both semaphores and reversesall the switches thus lighting the lamps and closing the switches of thesecond circuit, and whereby subsequent energization of the secondcircuit reverses the semaphores, extinguishes the lights,"and reversesall the switches.

7. A locking device for a semaphore, comprising in combination with thesemaphoreshaft and its actuating-electromagnet, a lostmotion connectionbetween the armature of the electromagnet and the shaft, a springactuated latch adapted to lock the connec= tion and means fordisengaging the latch as the armature is taking up the lost motion,substantially as described.

8. In a contact device for overhead trolleys, the combination with aframe supported above the normal line of the trolley-wire,contact-pieces carried by said frame and means for deflecting said wireout of its normal line between the ends of said contactpieces, wherebythe trolley-wire serves to guide the trolley-wheel into contact withsaid contact-pieces, and one of said pieces being electrically connectedwith said Wire, substantially as described.

9. In a contact device for overhead trolleys, the combination Withcontact-pieces supported above the normal line of the trolley-wire, ofmeans deflecting said wire out of its normal line between the ends ofthe contact-pieces, the contact-pieces so disposed as to guide thetrolley-wheel in the normal line of the trolley-wire, one of said piecesbeing electrically connected to the trolley-wire, substantially asdescribed.

VICTOR W. BERGENTHAL.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM R. LITZENBERG, FREDERICK O. GooDwIN.

